disney world – The Charming Travel Co. https://thecharmingtravelco.com Wed, 21 Feb 2024 04:52:12 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.3 https://i0.wp.com/thecharmingtravelco.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/cropped-Charming-3-6.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 disney world – The Charming Travel Co. https://thecharmingtravelco.com 32 32 180853257 Disney World Mid-Day Break: Yes, You Can Leave and Return! Here’s How https://thecharmingtravelco.com/disney-world-mid-day-break-yes-you-can-leave-and-return-heres-how/ Wed, 21 Feb 2024 02:56:48 +0000 https://thecharmingtravelco.com/?p=2731

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Disney World Mid-Day Break: Yes, You Can Leave and Return! Here’s How

When you have a valid park ticket and are scanned into the park, you can come and go as you please all day.  If you want to leave that park and visit another park, an upgrade to a park hopper ticket would be required.  The good news is all day park hopping is back!! The park hopper ticket allows you the freedom to visit any park at any time for maximum flexibility.  My favorite is a quick Skyliner ride from Hollywood Studios to EPCOT.  Want to know what leaving the park could look like for your family? Consider the following… 

Cinderella in the Festival of Fantasy Parade
Cinderella in the Festival of Fantasy Parade

You can hardly believe how lucky you were to have your daughter freshly made up at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique and then front row during the parade right in time to wave to Cinderella.  Equally thankful for the sunglasses to hide the joyful tears that followed, as your heart just burst!  The morning was absolutely perfect…until the afternoon nap time tantrum hit.  Heat and exhaustion were  then causing your dream of any nighttime fireworks to become an impossibility.  This does not have to be your story.  Instead after that perfect moment, know your limits and take a break.  Staying in a convenient, on property, resort can repaint this next scene to be anything but that tantrum.  Ideally the next moment you have retreated to your resort and are now sitting on the balcony watching the boats go by,  you are storing all of the little moments of the morning into your core memories.   The little princess is inside her Polynesian Resort room, dreaming of those moments herself.  A well earned nap after rope drop and nonstop fun.  The evening will consist of dining with the princesses in EPCOT and you will make it to fireworks!  Thankfully the convenience of the monorail can handle all of that transportation so there’s no stress of how to pull it off.

I learned the hard lessons for you and now it’s completely doable! I am a mom of 3 little ones and learning to balance them all at Disney was a big mindset readjustment.  The best thing I’ve figured out is a Walt Disney World vacation is a marathon NOT a sprint.  I’m a kid in a candy shop, I want to show them everything and do it all immediately.  Life with kids has its own pace.  Getting up isn’t an issue, we are always early to rise and ready to go go go.  I read the room… before the tantrums and fights, we take full use of our convenient resort and leave for a break.

Exploring the Polynesian Resort
My husband heading for the room… nap time!

Mid-day breaks can be different for everyone.  What works best for us is a good, quiet nap in the room for my husband and youngest.  I’m too excited to rest, so I take the other 2 to the pool for some extra vitamin d and water slide time.  After showers and a good recharge, we are ready for our dining reservations and can keep pushing until the park closes.  I never feel like we are missing out on the fun when we take this time, the park is the hottest and busiest midday.

Your park tickets are good for the day, you can go in and out as many times as you’d like.  If you upgrade to a park hopper ticket, you can even leave the park and head to another park for dinner and a nighttime spectacular.   This is a good way to completely reset after your break as well.  I love to go to Animal Kingdom early in the morning, but often that park will close earlier and we can then enjoy snacking at the latest EPCOT festival that evening instead.  Flexibility can look different for everyone.  I can be as set as I want for the kids to see the Giraffes eating up close, but my kids will for sure be the most excited about the rabbit standing next to it.  Taking the time to notice the bunny or leave for what does excite them, makes the difference in core memory making.

So go ahead, get up early, sleep in, take the breaks or hit the pool and then sit back and enjoy those little moments.  Sometimes the convenience of a close resort and a park hopper ticket can really take the stress out of planning and help you enjoy your trip that much more!!

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Blair Hoffpauir

Introducing Blair, a dedicated travel professional with a passion for Disney. As a Mother/Baby RN and loving mom to three young children, Blair understands the unique needs of families and brings a nurturing touch to trip planning. Drawing from her own magical Disney experiences and genuine love for organizing and planning, Blair loves crafting unforgettable moments for clients, sprinkled with pure Disney joy.

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Are you ready to be #OfficiallyCharming? https://thecharmingtravelco.com/are-you-ready-to-be-officiallycharming/ Mon, 01 Jan 2024 23:14:27 +0000 https://thecharmingtravelco.com/?p=2616

Are you ready to be #OfficiallyCharming?

Have you ever felt overwhelmed planning your next family adventure, trying to figure out what to do, what to see, or even what to eat? Have no fear! — We’ve braved the lines, taste tested the foods, and tried out every twisty-turny track to bring you the ULTIMATE guide to theme park, all inclusive, and cruise line must-dos (and must-don’ts!)

Introducing: #OfficiallyCharming — Our Seal of Approval for all things that are totally worth doing… and why! Follow along for things like…

🍦Foodie Finds: Ditch the boring stuff and say hello to dining on the edge of space or maybe safely on Earth right next to the Savanna! Maybe your inclinations are more royal with castle wishes or you’re a real foodie that wants to eat your way around the world! Your taste buds (and Instagram) will thank you!

🎢 Thrill Seeker’s Heaven: Forget the spinning teacups, it’s all about running velociraptors, racing lightcycles, magical motorbikes, and intergalactic spaceships here! Prepare for G-forces and goosebumps as we unveil the can’t miss rides at all the theme parks! And some daredevil excursions at your all inclusive or cruises!

🕶 Rest & Relaxation Retreat: Who says theme parks are all about chaos? Unwind after the screams in a sand-bottomed pool, checking out the spa, or maybe even some world class golfing. Trust us, whether rest or fun, these resorts are practically magic. ✨ Or maybe you want to skip the theme parks this trip and want all rest and relaxation — we’ve got you covered with our favorites too!

💎 Hidden Gems: When you visit the theme parks as often as we do for “research,” you find ways to sneak away from the hustle and bustle and take the road less traveled. We have the experience to help you make a truly unique trip for your family no matter the destination.

Are you ready to become a Charming Traveler and check out our Officially Charming picks?

So, Charming Travelers, what are YOUR theme park must-haves? Share your #OfficiallyCharming recommendations in the comments below or ask us about our favorites!

Let’s make this the ultimate travel resource! Welcome to #officiallycharming !

Want more #OfficiallyCharming? Make sure to follow us on your preferred social media:
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Gina Parsley

Hi there! I'm Gina and I'm the owner of The Charming Travel Co. I am passionate about helping families create lasting memories through travel and experiences. Whether you're planning a dream vacation or finding magic in everyday moments, I hope to inspire and empower you to make the most of every adventure. So come down the rabbit hole with me as we make the best of our family vacations!

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What to Wear to Disney: Christmas Edition https://thecharmingtravelco.com/what-to-wear-to-disney-christmas-edition/ https://thecharmingtravelco.com/what-to-wear-to-disney-christmas-edition/#comments Fri, 30 Oct 2020 08:53:00 +0000 http://thecharmingtravelco.com/?p=737 I joke all the time that getting ready for a Disney trip is like getting ready for a week long prom! It might be excessive, but I spend weeks planning my outfits, accessories, coordinating my family’s outfits, and planning out nails and hairstyles. There are usually spreadsheets involved.

I have an upcoming trip with some girl friends and the planning is a lot more collaborative than when it’s just with my family. Everyone has great taste and input and we are tossing ideas around…. with my family, it’s usually just reminders of staying within the budget and “I’m not wearing that.”

You’re thinking — “WHY are you putting that much work into Disney trip outfits?”

You know how people spend time and money to get cute family photos every year? You know those super cute fall or Christmas family photos? I don’t do those…. we do Disney pictures with our Memory Maker! So those pictures in front of the castle, tree, theater, and geodesic sphere? Those are the pictures that get sent out on our Christmas cards and shared all over social media. We gotta look good.

So, to help make this easier for you, I’ve created some style inspiration boards for you and your family or friends for your next Christmas Disney trip!

We gotta start with the classic Christmas colors and looks! This collage features some of the amazing new Christmas merchandise available at Disney this season! I’m a big fan of clothing items that can be mixed and matched with my regular wardrobe. So I’m a huge fan of this striped crop top. I’m super petite and between my high waisted jeans and skirts, I find crop tops to be the most flattering for my shape…. even thought I never actually show my belly! I also am a big fan of a solid colored swing skirt. Perfect for wearing everyday and mixing up for different Disneybound outfits. Lastly, the accessories are the key details that tie everything together. Go for the big loud Christmas earrings!

Inspiration comes from many places. In this case, the inspirations for these outfits came from my friend Brittany of Chronicles of a Pixie. She makes the most adorable and comfortable bowbands to bring a little bit of Disney magic to your everyday outfits! This amazing Pink Gingerbread Print Bowband inspired this entire design board. There is something so delicious about a pink Christmas! It reminds me of fluffy icing and candy. I think these colors would just look amazing in front of Cinderella’s newly painted castle!

I love bright unexpected colors and I love candy cane and peppermints. I took inspiration from another Chronicles of a Pixie bowband for this one. What I like about this look is that these are all colors we have in our closets right now! It’s just a matter of pulling them out and pairing them together. The blue jeans fit in perfectly with this palette too. So a perfect casual option. My new favorite striped shirt makes an appearance again in this board. Plus, can we all just appreciate the perfection that is the candy cane mini backpack?!

One of my favorite parts of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is the parade and the toy soldiers are always a spectacle! This is a perfect ensemble piece. Since we are going to have to wear masks at Disney for the foreseeable future, why not have some fun with it? I put together a quick mock up of a mask you could design in the top left hand corner! Pair that with a “toy solider” shirt found with a quick Google search, black leggings for everyone in your party, and some red hats. If you wanted to get real authentic, I saw some how tos to DIY your own solider hat with some cardboard! So depending on how much effort you want to put into this…. Your have lots of options! You could also do red headbands or red sparkle Minnie ears with a yellow bow. Your only limit is your imagination!

I hope this has given you some inspiration to for your own Christmas outfits for your next trip to Disney World!

I’m off to purchase that amazing striped shirt now, but if you are ready to travel and considering a trip to a Disney Destination — contact one of our amazing TCTCo. Travel Professionals to help you!

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You Need a Fairy Godmother. https://thecharmingtravelco.com/you-need-a-fairy-godmother/ Fri, 02 Oct 2020 07:26:00 +0000 http://thecharmingtravelco.com/?p=511 You spend hours scouring the internet for the best deals, trying to decide where and when you are going to go, which resort is the best fit for your family… and then find yourself in some random rabbit hole discussing what kind of moms Disney Princesses would be, a couple Disney dance videos, and 12 hours later, you aren’t any closer to having any idea what you are doing.

Why isn’t there someone I can just ask about this?

– You. (Lamenting.)

This is where we queue the Fairy Godmother and she waves her magic wand and then you are on your pumpkin wrapped motor bus headed to Walt Disney World.

While we might not exactly be magical Fairy Godmothers, what we are lacking in magic wands, we make up for in knowledge and experience of Disney Destinations and other vacation favorites.

The travel industry has changed a lot over the last year, but if there is one thing that everyone is sure of — it’s the importance of having a travel agent on your side.

When travel destinations were closing back in March, we were immediately on the phone moving trips, cancelling trips, getting refunds for our clients, starting the process of travel insurance reimbursements.

Wait times on both the consumer and travel agents lines were hours long. We were able to prevent those long waits for many of our clients by making those phone calls for them.

Whether it’s suggesting the right resort for your family, recommending and booking dining reservations, or planning out every detail of your itinerary we are here for you.

When you are ready to travel again, we are ready to create some magical memories for you!

Find a TCTCo. Travel Agent for your family.

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